What do you like more--politics, or policy making and implementation?

I like to have the policies I want implemented, but I enjoy working the campaigns more.

Why?

The excitement. The idealism. The thrill of the win. Making policy is tedious work, full of compromise and frustration.

What do people do at a national political party convention?

Remember my description of parties in Jordan. Kinda like that. There is a reason they call them Political Parties. Let's see. Besides being invited to party after party after party. You are invited to lunches and dinners and receptions. We had breakfast every day at the Hotel together with our delagation. We planned some stuff for the convention floor, then generally had a guest speaker. I remember Carville and pollster Chalie Cook, who was fascinating. The local and National Media covered every second. I made some good friends with several of our local reporters, tv, radio and print. Then we were usually invited to some place awesome for lunch. One day we had a train ride lunch sponsored by the railroad. Everything had corporate sponsors. Everything. The night before the convention they had a huge Taste of Chicago for us. David Broder did an interview twith me that night. Another night, before the convention a few of us went to a reception for our Dem Congressman, to help him get some big donations from some big donors. Then we went to the convention where we met with other politicians in back room receptions. Hang out with Al Franken one night trying to crash the George party hosted by JFK Jr. at the Art institute. Had lunch with Michael Dukakis and Geraldine Ferraro. Got Michael Moore to give me a kiss after betting a friend that I could do it. I won 5 bucks. Gloria Allred cornered me and lectured me for a good 30 minutes on how I needed to do more to get NOW stronger in Utah. Collected and traded pins from other delegates. Stalked Patty Murray with a white house intern who had yet to come out of the closet. Danced to some kick ass blues, Was interviewed by the local media, and the national media about every little thing. Went to after parties every night. Ran smack into jesse jackson hurrying into one. Best effing week of my life. And I have had some amazing weeks.

It was '96, a very good year for us Dems. Everyone was optimistic, and playful. Feeling good. Except for the afternoon of the day of the Nominations when some reporter shoved a microphone in my face and asked me what I thought about dick morris. What about him? The reporter gleefully told about the toe-sucking incident. I think I said something to the effect that he pissed me off that we could work so hard for something, only to have some damn man's libido destroy it.

I had to be elected as a delegate at our state convention. I campaigned for the position. Spoke in every caucus, had literature. That was fun, also.

Why are you a Democrat when you were raised in and live in a conservative area?

I wasn't always a Democrat. I met Reagan as a teen, I also worked on some Republican campaigns. I voted for Bush in 88. I was a liberal, feminist, pro-choice, non-religious Republican. I believed in the big tent.

Then came Anita Hill. The way she was treated by my Senator, and the other Republican Senators made me shake with rage and scream and cry. My daughter was a baby at the time.

Anita Hill drove me, and many other women locally to our local caucuses in '92. I realized then that I had found my true home.

What are some of the ways you stay young?

No one can stay young--however, as an atheist, I fear death. I want to live as long as possible and look and feel as good as I can while doing it. Of course there is botox, and vitamins, and facials, and hair coloring. I am also keeping up with modern advances in laser and other treatments. There is also the gym, and the diet (but, unlike Dawn and art, you can have my sugar when you pry it from my cold, dead, hand) and vitamins. There is music and dancing in my life. And adventure. And young people. And lots of laughter. My work is rewarding, and it allows me a lot of freedom, I try to take advantage of it.

How are products marketed to the public without us knowing it (e.g. product placement)?

Product placement is one way. Obviously you know something about that. How Corps pay money to have their products placed in televison shows and movies. I think of how all the Angels in the original Charlie's Angels drove Fords. That is not a coincidence. How about morning News Shows drinking Starbucks. Idol judges drinking huge Pepsi products. There are other ways, though. For example, they could pay bloggers to plug their products on the internet. And there are also people like you and me who join several groups or chat rooms and bring up products.

I could post something like: Have you tried the New wraps from McDonald's? omg are they good! I want one right now! Or maybe I could do a top post on Halloween candy. Or about a movie. Where the Wild Things are. Can't wait to see it! Just saw it, amazing. I laughed I cry. You must put it on your Must See list!

By the way, you market a candidate the same way you market a product. You find a way to tap into people's needs, then market a way to fill them. I also raised enormous amounts of money when I was heavily into politics. I once did a fundraiser where I got more Democrats in a county to come than were actually registered. When I was on the State Candidate Recruitment Committee (pretty much me and JD WIlliams that year), we marketed running for office to potential candidates.